You know what honestly gets me about the HD loving masses (as someone who again, has no issues with HDs) nowadays? The fact that so many of them act like HD is some sort of tradition loving, little guy supporting, family owned business. It's marketing at its best and all the chest beating "Live To Ride" God fearing and gun toting Americans are sopping it up like bread in soup.
Willy G and the rest of the "family" don't give a damn about anything other than the bottom line. If they did, they would have kept production in the States. But in the end that cuts into THEIR profits. Can't have that.
"Oh, but look at all they do for the HD community" you say smugly... You mean like throwing an anniversary party every year? The same one where they invite all of the loyalists to come cheer on the new years higher priced models while charging them $10 for a beer and $45 for a T-shirt? Sounds more like a gimmick than an event to celebrate the "culture".
"Ok, but what do the Japanese or European manufacturers do that's any better" you ask? Nothing. They dont try to create some bullshit "culture" to sell an antiquated and overpriced product. They sell a good and ever increasingly better product at a reasonable price. There money goes into racing and research and engineering. Development is key. They pay their customers back with better products not new gimmicks. So... I guess that's what they do thats "better".
Again, I have no issue with Harley because I see them for what they are. If others choose to see them for what HD tells them to see, that's their problem.
Oh, and before you get all riled up about this new (fucking awful looking
) HD coming out... You're all aware of the fact that it's just a desperate ploy by HD to sell more shit to foreign countries right? Hence the Indian manufacturing. Not the first time either. Their post war Japanese factory built bikes for the Asian market for many years.
Shit... None of this matters. If you've drank the black and orange KoolAid than nothing anyone says matters.
In the end HD is just another company out to fill their coffers with cash and more power to them. I just wish folks would stop acting like they're some sort of flag waving all American for the people band of loveable scamps. Ain't the case and hasnt been in several decades.